Documents/Forms
USDA Nationwide Waivers | CSDE Waivers
USDA Nationwide COVID-19 Waivers for School Year 2021-22
Pursuant to the COVID–19 Child Nutrition Response Act (H.R. 6201, Title II), and the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has established nationwide waivers to support access to nutritious meals, while enforcing recommendations from public health experts with regard to social distancing measures. These waivers apply to all states that elect to use them. The CSDE is opting to use these waivers. All waivers are in effect through June 30, 2022, or until 30 days after the end of the public health emergency, which was declared on January 31, 2020, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Note: Sponsors must submit applicable waiver applications to the CSDE and receive CSDE approval prior to implementing these USDA flexibilities. Information on the 2021-22 waiver application process will be available soon. To access the waiver applications, go to the How To section in the left navigation bar. For additional guidance, contact the applicable CSDE school nutrition programs staff, summer meals staff, or CACFP staff.
| USDA Nationwide COVID-19 Waivers for School Year 2021-22 (through June 30, 2022) | |||||||
| Requirement |
USDA Waiver |
Applies to |
|||||
| NSLP | SBP | SSO | ASP | CACFP | SFSP | ||
| Area Eligibility | COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #93: Nationwide Waiver of Area Eligibility in the Afterschool Programs and for Family Day Care Home Providers in School Year 2021-2022 |
X | X | ||||
| COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #104: Nationwide Waiver of Area Eligibility Requirements for Service Institutions Operating the Summer Food Service Program during Unanticipated School Closures in School Year 2021-2022 | X | ||||||
| Meal Pattern | COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #90: Nationwide Waiver to Allow Specific School Meal Pattern Flexibility for School Year 2021-2022 | X | X | X | |||
| COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #91: Nationwide Waiver to Allow Specific Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Child and Adult Care Food Program for School Year 2021-2022 | X | ||||||
| COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #100: Waiver to Allow Fiscal Action Flexibility for Meal Pattern Violations Related to COVID-19 Supply Chain Disruptions Impacting School Meals in School Year 2021-2022 |
X | X | |||||
| Meal Service Times | COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #88: Nationwide Waiver of Meal Times Requirements for School Year 2021-2022 | X | X | X | X | ||
| COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #102: Nationwide Waiver of Meal Times Requirements for Service Institutions Operating the Summer Food Service Program during Unanticipated School Closures in School Year 2021-2022 | X | ||||||
| Meals at School Sites | COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #105: Nationwide Waiver to Allow Service of Meals at School Sites during Unanticipated School Closures in School Year 2021-2022 | X | X | ||||
| Monitoring | COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #94: Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements in the School Meal Programs – Revised – Extension 3 | X | X | ||||
| COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #96: Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements for Sponsors in the Child and Adult Care Food Program – Extension | X | ||||||
| Non-Congregate Meal Service | COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #87: Nationwide Waiver to Allow Non-Congregate Meal Service for School Year 2021-2022 | X | X | X | X | ||
| COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #101: Nationwide Waiver to Allow Non-Congregate Meal Service for Service Institutions Operating the Summer Food Service Program during Unanticipated School Closures in School Year 2021-2022 | X | ||||||
| Offer versus Serve (OVS) | COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #92: Nationwide Waiver to Allow Offer Versus Serve Flexibility for Senior High Schools in School Year 2021-2022 | X | X | ||||
| Parent/Guardian Pickup | COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #89: Nationwide Waiver to Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals for Children for School Year 2021-2022 | X | X | X | X | ||
| COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #103: Nationwide Waiver to Allow Parents and Guardians to Pick Up Meals Served by Service Institutions through the Summer Food Service Program during Unanticipated School Closures in School Year 2021-2022 | X | ||||||
| Reporting | COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #106: Nationwide Waiver for Selected Child Nutrition Program Reporting Requirements | X | X | ||||
| School Wellness Policy | COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #98: Nationwide Waiver of Local School Wellness Policy Triennial Assessments in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs | X | X | ||||
| SSO Operations | COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #85: Nationwide Waiver to Allow the Seamless Summer Option through School Year 2021-2022 | X | |||||
| COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #86: Nationwide Waiver to Allow Summer Food Service Program Reimbursement Rates in School Year 2021-2022 |
X | ||||||
| COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #97: Nationwide Waiver to Provide Flexibility for School Meal Programs Administrative Reviews of School Food Authorities Operating Only the Seamless Summer Option in School Year (SY) 2021-2022 | X | ||||||
CSDE Waivers Submitted to the USDA for School Year 2021-22
The USDA allows states to request waivers enabling sponsors to serve meals in more flexible ways during closures related to COVID-19. The CSDE has submitted the waivers listed below. Unless otherwise indicated, the USDA has approved these waivers.
- Waiver 1: Request to Waive Administrative Review Requirements in Child Nutrition Programs and Implement Alternative Oversight Procedures
- Waiver 2: Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Deadlines
- Waiver 3: Allow Reimbursement for Meals Served Prior to Notification of Approval in the Summer Food Service Program
- Waiver 4: Transitioning to Normal Child Nutrition Operations